PRESS RELEASES
July, 2004
Cycling for a Cause
On Saturday, June 26th the Big Hole valley was filled with 264 cyclists, all taking part in the third annual RATPOD (Ride Around The Pioneers in One Day). RATPOD is a one day, 157-mile bicycle tour starting and ending in Dillon, Montana at the UM-Western campus. Riders took on this daunting task not only for the amazing scenery and to test their fortitude, but also for a very good cause.
The event benefits Montana’s own Camp Mak-A-Dream which provides medically supervised, cost-free camp experiences for children (ages 6-13), teens (ages 14-18) and young adults (ages 19-25) with cancer from all across the country. More than 3,000 participants have already come to Gold Creek, Montana from all over the United States – and some from as far away as Canada, Mexico, Chili and Peru - to meet other young people who understand their hopes, their fears and just what it means to have cancer.
Riders representing numerous Montana towns, as well as 16 other states all put forth their time and energy to support the mission of Camp Mak-A-Dream.
RATPOD 2004 raised over $105,000 for the Children’s Oncology Camp Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization which owns and operates Camp Mak-A-Dream, in part due to the generous support from area sponsors including the Missoula Bone & Joint, Missoula Anesthesiology, Montana Cancer Specialists, Western Montana Medical Association, Western Montana Clinic, Five Valley’s Urology, Locati Architects, Community Medical Center and St. Patrick Hospital & Health Sciences Center. Riders also raised money by soliciting pledge donations for each mile they rode.
The 4th annual RATPOD ride will be held on June 25, 2005. For more information on RATPOD or on the cost-free programs offered for cancer patients, please contact: Camp Mak-A-Dream, P.O. Box 1450, Missoula, MT 59806. Phone (406)549-5987. On the web: www.campdream.org E-mail: camp@montana.com.